A new group in town, which provides circus classes to people of all ages and abilities, is celebrating the upcoming International Day of Disabled Persons with a fun day for all at Memorial Park.

The Bay of Plenty branch of Circability is hosting the fun day from 10am-2pm this Friday, December 1, at Memorial Park, Jordan Field.

Circability Bay of Plenty Hub regional manager Rowan Ford Dawson welcomes everyone to come along “and join in, have a go and learn some circus skills”.

“We’ve got big props like a large walking ball, we might have a tight rope and there will be unicycles for people to give it a try.

“We’ll also have our teachers, equipment & some snacks – it will be a day of fun in the park doing circus.”

Rowan says the event is “a chance for people who haven’t worked with us to see what we do and what they can learn”.

Circability classes teach people of all abilities circus skills in schools, disability centres and retirement villages.

Available in Auckland and Northland, Circability has been running in the Bay of Plenty for just one-and-a-half school terms.

Circability started in New Zealand more than 10 years ago, and there are classes for people of all ages, all abilities, all cultures, all together.

“We go into schools, disability centres, retirement villages and preschools and we teach social circus,” says Rowan.

“Social circus is using circus classes as a social tool to encourage coordination, balance, confidence, social engagement and self-pride to create positive outcomes for our students.”

It also fosters building confidence, overcoming trauma and developing essential capacities such as resilience and responsibility.

Rowan says “the focus on disability is at the forefront of what we do” – hence the event to celebrate people with disabilities and six months of Circability classes in the BOP in the lead-up to International Day of Disabled Persons on December 3.

So join Circability for a fun day this Friday, December 1 from 10am-2pm at Memorial Park, Jordan Field, Devonport Rd, Tauranga, to learn some new tricks.